A slitting tool is provided for severing a tubular body such as the body of an introducer or a guide catheter that is positioned around an implantable medical device (imd) such as a lead or another catheter. The slitting tool includes a body member that has a surface adapted to be gripped by a user. The surface includes a channel that is provided to align the imd with respect to the body of the slitting tool. The gripping action of the user maintains the imd within the channel such that the channel need not attach to the imd. The slitting tool includes a cutting member coupled to the body member and positioned to sever the tubular body without severing the imd.
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1. A slitting tool for use in severing a tubular body positioned around an implantable medical device (imd), comprising:
a body member having a top surface and a nose portion coupled to the top surface, the nose portion having a front surface and an inner surface, wherein the front surface and the inner surface define a solid tip portion;
a gripping mechanism coupled to the body member to be pendent from the body member opposite the top surface;
the top surface of the body member having an area adapted to receive a thumb when the tool is gripped by a user, the top surface having an open channel to accept an imd, and whereby gripping action of the thumb of a user maintains the imd within the channel; and
a cutting member coupled to the inner surface of the nose section of the body member.
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The current invention relates to an improved tool for slitting a catheter or introducer; and more particularly, relates to a slitting tool that is easier and more comfortable to use.
Catheters and medical electrical leads are often inserted into a patient's body by means of introducer systems. These introducer systems typically include an elongated sheath which is inserted into the blood vessel or other portion of the patient's body. A catheter or lead may then be introduced through a lumen of the introducer. In those circumstances in which the lead or catheter is to remain in the patient's body for a considerable period of time, it is desirable to be able to remove the introducer sheath without removing the lead or catheter.
Another related procedure involves placing a lead at a target destination through a lumen of a guide catheter. After the lead is in position, the guide catheter must be removed from the body while leaving the lead undisturbed. If the lead is coupled to an isodiametric connector that is substantially the same size as the lead body, the guide catheter can be removed from the body by pulling the guide catheter over the connector. Many connectors, however, are larger than the lead body so that the guide catheter cannot be withdrawn over the connector, and some other means of removal must be employed.
One commonly employed mechanism for removing an introducer sheath or a guide catheter from around another device is to provide the sheath or guide catheter with weakened zones so that it can be torn or split and thereby removed from around the encircled device. One introducer system employing this mechanism is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,469 issued to Scheaerf, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Another commonly employed mechanism for removing a sheath or guide catheter from around a catheter or lead is to simply slit the sheath along its length as it is pulled proximally along the inner lead or catheter and out of the patient's body. Various exemplary slitter designs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,424 issued to Little, U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,198 issued to Gardeski, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,460 to Moss et al. These prior art designs include mechanisms that grasp or otherwise couple to a lead or catheter body. For example, the '424 patent to Little describes a slitter that includes an arcuate section having an inner peripheral wall that extends arcuately through an angle of at least about 180 degrees, and which is adapted to abut against a catheter while an introducer tube is slit away from the catheter body.
Because prior art slitter tools are adapted to couple to the inner lead or catheter body while the encircling introducer or guide catheter is being slit away, the dimensions of the slitter tool must be tailored for a particular lead or catheter. For example, a slitting tool adapted to couple to a 4 French lead will not properly attach to a 2 French lead, and so on. As a result, pre-packaged lead, catheter, or introducer kits must be provided with specific slitting tools sized for use with the devices in the kit. This increases manufacturing costs.
Another problem associated with the coupling mechanisms of prior art slitting tools involves difficulties with deployment. Prior art clamping mechanisms add unnecessary bulk and complexity to the slitter. Moreover, such tools may attach to a lead body in a manner that is not intuitive. As a result, the user may incorrectly couple the slitter to the lead body, and the outer surface of the lead may therefore be damaged during the slitting process.
Yet another difficulty with using prior art slitting tools has to do with lead dislodgement. The coupling mechanisms provided by prior art slitting tools could suddenly disengage from a lead during the slitting process. This may cause the lead body to abruptly move in a manner that dislodges the lead distal tip. As a result, the lead placement procedure must be repeated, resulting in additional trauma to the patient.
Another disadvantage with prior art slitting tools is that they are not designed ergonomically. For example, most prior art tools are adapted to be grasped by the user with the index finger and thumb in the general plane of the cutting blade. In this case, the reactionary force causing by the slitting process is resisted by squeezing the slitter between the index finger and the thumb, which does not provide good support. Moreover, many tools of this type require the palm of the hand to be generally facing in an upward direction, which tends to be unstable. Finally, grasping a slitting tool in this manner encourages the user to incorrectly push the slitter toward the catheter rather than to pull the catheter past the slitter in the correct manner of use. As a result, the slitting process is made much more difficult, and potential damage to the inner device may occur.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved slitting tool that addresses the forgoing problems.
An improved slitting tool is provided for severing a tubular body such as the body of an introducer or a guide catheter that is positioned around an implantable medical device (IMD) such as a lead or another catheter. The slitting tool includes a body member that has a surface adapted to be gripped by a user. The surface includes a channel that is provided to align the IMD with respect to the body of the slitting tool. The gripping action of the user maintains the IMD within the channel such that the channel need not attach to the IMD. The slitting tool includes a cutting member coupled to the body member and positioned to sever the tubular body without severing the IMD. The cutting member of one embodiment has a blade angle of less than sixty degrees with respect to the tubular body being slit. In another embodiment, the cutting member has a sawtooth edge to aid in cutting through a hub of an introducer or guide catheter.
In one embodiment, the gripping surface has a recessed area that may be textured, and is further adapted for receiving a thumb of the user. According to another aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the channel may be formed within an overmold area that is provided adjacent to a base area. The overmold area may be formed of a lower durometer polymer than that forming the base portion of the body member. A polymer is selected that will provide a tacky surface within the channel to further aid in retaining the IMD during the slitting procedure.
In another embodiment, the slitting tool may include a gripping member such as a ring to receive at least one finger of a user. This gripping member provides enhanced stability and control during the slitting procedure. A nose portion may also be provided to enhance control. The nose portion, which may project from the body, is adapted to provide at least a portion of channel, and may be positioned between the IMD and the tubular body to protect the IMD during the slitting process.
The slitting tool of the current invention may be used with IMDs of various sizes since the channel is not sized to couple to a particular device. Moreover, the channel provides an intuitive mechanism for aligning the IMD that substantially prevents misuse of the tool. The tool is also adapted to be ergonomic, since the tool may be grasped with the hand and wrist in a natural position that promotes control during the slitting operation.
Catheter 12 of
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As shown in
It may further be noted that the cutting member 60 shown in
Top surface 52 further includes a channel 72 that extends along at least a portion of top surface, and further continues along at least a portion of front surface 54 of nose section 53. In the embodiment shown, channel 72 runs the entire length of nose section 53 to tip portion 58. This channel is provided to align a lead, catheter, or body of another implantable device in relation to the guide catheter and slitter, but does not clamp or affix to the lead. The lead is instead held in place by the user's thumb positioned within recessed area in a manner to be discussed further below. Channel 72 may be semi-circular, may form a “V” or a “U”, may have a stepped surface, or may be formed in another shape. In addition, the surface of channel 72 may be textured or smooth. Texturing may be provided using any means known in the art, including those discussed in the foregoing paragraph. Providing channel 72 with a textured surface helps to prevent relative movement of a lead, catheter, or other IMD in relation to the slitting tool without the use of a clamping or affixing mechanism. In one embodiment, channel 72 extends through an angle of less than 180 degrees. In a particular embodiment, the channel ranges from 40 to 160 degrees.
In one embodiment of the invention, channel 72 is deeper at the top of nose section 53 where top surface 52 and front surface 54 intersect. In this region, channel 72 may be deep enough to receive the entire body of the lead 90. This protects lead 90 from the sharp slit edge of the catheter during the slitting process. This deeper portion of the channel also helps retain the lead prior to positioning a finger within recessed area.
Slitting tool 50 is used by pulling a handle 84 of guide catheter 82 toward the user and over cutting member 60. Severing guide catheter 82 in this manner allows the catheter to be removed from around lead 90, since connector assembly 100 is too large to allow catheter to be retracted over the connector. Channel 72 in the top of nose section 53 supports lead 90 and redirects it so that it does not contact a sharp severed edge of guide catheter 82. This portion of channel 72, transitioning from nose section 53 to top surface 52, is typically constructed deeper to protect the lead from being damaged during the slitting operation. This view further shows the manner in which a pushing force applied by the hand gripping slitting tool will be opposed by an opposite pulling force asserted by another hand that is gripping hub 80 of guide catheter 82.
Many alternative embodiments of the current invention may be contemplated by one skilled in the art. For example, channel 72 may take any desired shape such as a generally “V” shaped channel, a “U” channel, a “stepped-V” or “stepped-U” channel, a combination thereof, or any other desired shape. The channel may extend over a portion, or all, of front surface 54 of nose section 53, and may extend over a portion, or all, of top surface 52. Channel may have a uniform shape, width and depth, or a shape and/or size that varies along the channel length. For example, the depth of channel may be at a maximum at the intersection of top surface 52 and front surface 54 in the manner discussed above. At this location, the shape may be a relatively deep “V” shape, with a more shallow rounded channel used elsewhere. Similarly, recessed area 70 may take many shapes and sizes, included stepped, rounded, or “V-shape” surfaces, as noted above. Such constructions allow one slitting tool with one blade to accommodate several lead body diameters.
According to one aspect of the invention, a tacky overmolding material formed of a relatively low durometer polymer may be used to form all, or a portion, of the channel. A tacky channel surface minimizes relative movement of the slitting tool to the axis of the lead body or catheter. In one exemplary embodiment, an aromatic polyurethane such as Thermedics Tecothane® TT-1074A, 75 Shore A durometer may be overlaid over a more rigid polyurethane such as DOW Isoplast™ 301 or DOW Pellethane® 2363-75D, which is used to form the body of the slitting tool. Texturing may be provided in the overmold surface, if desired.
Many other configurations for the channel and recessed area may be contemplated. In all instances, these structures are adapted to receive a lead or catheter body without actually providing a clamping structure. The actual retention of the lead or catheter body within the channel is accomplished by the thumb of the user. Because of the flexibility associated with this retention mechanism, the slitting tool of the current invention can be used with lead and/or catheter bodies having different sizes and even different shapes. Thus, various versions of the slitter is generally not needed. Moreover, the current invention provides an intuitive way to grip and maintain the slitting tool against the lead or catheter body. Instances of misusing the tool in a way that inadvertently damages a lead or catheter are therefore minimized. Finally, because the thumb ensures a fixed relationship between the slitting tool and the lead or catheter body, a user is not inclined to push the slitter against the introducer or guide catheter rather than pull the introducer or guide catheter across the slitter blade. This facilitates proper use of the tool so that lead damage is minimized.
Spear, Stanten C., Malewicz, Andrzej M., Gardeski, Kenneth C., Odegard, Jeremy J.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Feb 15 2002 | Medtronic, Inc. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Feb 15 2002 | GARDESKI, KENNETH C | Medtronic, Inc | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012636 | /0932 | |
Feb 15 2002 | SPEAR, STANTEN C | Medtronic, Inc | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012636 | /0932 | |
Feb 15 2002 | MALEWICZ, ANDRZEJ M | Medtronic, Inc | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012636 | /0932 | |
Feb 15 2002 | ODEGARD, JEREMY J | Medtronic, Inc | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012636 | /0932 |
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